Effort-transmitting frictional device.



H. W. LEONARD.

, EFFORT ThANSMITTING EMOTIONAL DEVICE.

APPLIGATION FILED AUG11,1903.

1,044,894, Patente Nov. 19, 1912.

2 SJEBTS-SHEET T.

WITNESSES: INVENTOI? I m/gamw H. W. LEONARD. EFFORT TRANSMITTING FRICTIONAL DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG 11, 1903.

1,044,894, Patented Nov. 19, 19 12.

2 SHBETSSHEET 2.

WITNESSES. WENT V HARRY LEONARD, OFBRDN'XVILLE, NEW YORK;

nrFonr-rmusmrfme rniomoztar. navrcn.

Specification of Letters 2mm.

Patented Nov. 19, 1912 ya uemcn filed August 11 1003. Serial lfo. 139,0?1.

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known. that I, HARRY Ween LEON- Ann, a citizen of the United States, residing i to adjust the torque transmitted through the friction clutch so as to obtain just the torque at Lawrence Park, Bronxvi'ile, inthe county of Westchester and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful improvement in Effort-Transmitting Frictional Devices, of which the followings a specification.

My invention relates to friction clutches and similar devices,- and the principal object is to automatically limit the transmitted torque to a. practically constant and predeterminable maximum.

One of the principal applications of my invention' is to motor driven vehicles in which there is a friction clutch or its equivalent tor is operating at full speed, it is desirable that the machinery should be 'so arranged as to make it impossible for a careless, con fused or ignorant operator to apply an excessive torque through the friction clutch. The motor operating at full speed with a =large1nomentu-n'i in its fly wheel is capable of deliver ng to the transmission mechanism a very great strain. if the friction clutch can be so engaged as to transmit a torque largely in excess of that required to properly accelerate'the car from rest, which in fact is the case in friction clutches as heretofore 'emphliyed.

means of my invention I am enabled required and my improved transmitting mechanism automatically prevents the transuse of my invention is that the maximu ns. vstrain to which the transmission mechanism is subjected is greatly reduced. This means that the parts can bemade li'ghter, and con sequently cheaper and thatthe wear and mission of a.;la:rger torque than that required. It is well known that the coefficient of .friction is an extremely variablequantity and my invention makes the frictional drive practically indepeud ent of variations .1 the (E'oefiicient' of friction. The .Z esult. of the tear is greatly reduced. Furthermore my invention eliminates entirely one of the most objectionable features of a gasolene motor car, namely, the sudden jerking of the car when the frictionclutch is improperl Y engaged b the operator. The preferred way in whic I accomplish this may be briefly stated as follows: The torque transmitted through the frictional surfaces acts upon levers or equivalent devices which tend to open the clutch while a spring or equivalent adjustable. means constantly tends to hold the frictional surfaces together. The spring is so adjusted as to overpower the tendency of the torque to 0 en the clutch, and the adjustmentis such 'tat the transmitted torque has to. reach a certain predeterminable strength before the said levers'will act to overpower the closing spring and open the clutch. The torque is preferably trans mitted through double actin fiat springs which also tendto relieve t e mechanism from hammer-blow shock. The reater the transmitted torque the more wil these fiat springs be bent, and friction rollers connected with these flat springs move on inclined planes and in so doing actuate a crosshead which tends to open the clutch.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of the main frame of a motor car carrying the engine, clutch, change speed gear. flexible shaft and ditierential axle rear; Fig. 2 is'an elevation of my improved utch with the male member removed; Fig. 3 is a cross-section on the line 33 of Fig. 2;- Fig. a is a cross-section on the line 4-.4 of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2 of the means for automatically opening the clutch; and Fig. 6, a cross section of a preferred form of flexible coupling between the clutch and'the gear box.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings. A

represents a gasolene or other engine; B the -fly-whee1 and clutch; C the change speed gear box; I) the universal joints; E the 'difierential gear box; F the axles and G the main frame of the vehicle. The main frame, engine, changespeed gear, differential. ear and. universal joints may be of any suita 1e construction.

Referring now to Figs. 2, 3 and 4, a indicates the engine shaft having a flange which is bolted to the fly-wheel form ng part of the dutch 303m type having femaifl member H m d znam bcr 1. The flange er? mat-1133a? 31s "eri mw the flange 05? 52145 fiy-wi'ae ai so w 32 supporwfi herby and we ""z ea to P's/tats in dzrsctionu This Examiner is hem be fine fiy-wheaai by Wm baits an-i 3) each a shmfid ar 2311i nut {Fig 3} whegehy they are ciam gefi t0 the web the -W3:1 3L Tim shanks; file 11 his "sgeci mmugh uwrved sinks ia, 311 the Web a membe? a, if placeri In Him uncim? file moi-1123i p051- imns Qi' file paws are ShOWJIl m Flg, 2, midi W11 be seen that member F; can be 1' tatea elflwr :Rlrectmn shsrt dlsstanm, K I L i 1 mt-xmsn 5 cm'riefi by studs secured M2 3 y-wheeL [has far ii: will 21 2 seam fine torqus: may 0e transmitted shaft 55 fi WhQQK 3 ami '0m.;he

Fr shave a LUKE five cm which member 3: mm; a}? i ens-21 '01 manually, hub DZQViClQd whic" $122131 htdand lever L LJga-ges and e xiii be connectsd in n the (311M031ncntroiigr.

V. 'evcz' 2):: prm'ided 2 a; ash at t e Tili 0% the cliutch is deg gnei is close "presssure Q01: that P1113 ring M (Fig. 41} is placed 1mm 2 bah? e nui m an aim Hm Russian nf spring M this regiflatian, csnirnE-s .miitabie Item ch aa ix, as 11 through the nut and one of-a series of hples in the shait. I 1

To automatically open the clutch when zhe torque exceeds a predetermined amount, I prm'ide the m: piece or n'lember (Figs. 2 and 4} which sleeved on the shaft K ai its center where the member I? is formed into a cup and is pmvided vith a plate hav ing a raceway fay ball bearings: -n (Figs. 3 and 4). This bqll bearing is between member N and the hub i of member I of the clutch. Member I"? mm'es Wiin clutch membez' H when the torque carries member H around with tna fiy-wh eel, and the ball bearing is pmvided to reduce frictinnpbe- 8a tween 2' and LY, since considerable .pring pressure is on the member N. Each and of this member 1*? engages a pin 01' plunger Q 2 am 4} and ihesa pins war in sachets; 0 screwefl; through the web of man:- be? H, Each plunger has a roller U (I igq. and 5; an; the inner end and these ro ilers wark on can; plates; P carried in mocks secured t0 ihfi Web of the flywheel It will be seen that when the flywheel roiaies member H ill mtate therewith, 2; tgzrquc being applied threugh springs E and that acm'x'iling" t0 the amount of tar-qua springs J wili bend mare or 1e55, which results in relai'ix'e 1-star mm'ament between the fiy-wfifiel :mcl inembar This nmv ement in eiths-r fiirefiioin, causes rnlhns G to ride up on the cam plates as shown in defied Lines in Fig 5, resuming in an mfiward- IangitudinaL maven-1am 9f plungers O. The ontwa-rci movement ces member N in the. same flimctian and snce file sockei 0f the member 1 in direct cnnmci: vim the hub i, be? will be famed outward to :1 c0rresprmding erfiez'st agaiyggi the pressure Hf spring M and reduce the frictional engage" men; 0? PW :Euisn membm'5 m'cntireh open fins clutch.

From the foregoing it will be seen that by varying the tans-inn (if spring 11 the ef'Ik-rt z'eqnu-erl ai member I; tn iisplafle clutch membm? I can be varied, J will bend were or has in apply 1g the tongue awarding t0 ihe pr ure 0f spring??? To mmpifrnsme 1 03 221a layer the CZUH phi and in snme iIbYiHlCGS m adj1 t the mmn'latic clutch opezmr, I provide rpws y) (Figs. 1} and 5) high pass Khrfmgh ihe web 0f Yhe Fly-wheel and baa? ngz inat the mflew side of the cam plates. Lacking pL' 5&5 p we prm'idsd to lack the nnts on screws; 3

When thahfich is spelled manually. as in and heme prmgs st'opping he vehicle, member is (Ex-awn (miwardiy from member H-by means i 'ver L 111%? in flair spying M is ccmpressaii. Thsfm0vef 11$; figuld team} in v awe huh a" from membar i'hepfip mull muse fiispiacement 0f the Rail 7mm in 'guax'tl against this, I p'mvim such joint may be readily put in place and be easily removable to permit adjustment of the clutch spring'M, and also'to permit the free movement of the clutch member I, I have provided the joint shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 6. This joint is made in three parts, If, R and The parts It and R are square heads having short reduced portions which fit in the square hole formed by the two collar sections R The head of part Ixis formed hollow to admit the end of shaft-K. The outer end of the hub of member I has a square recess to receive the head R and the end of the shaft projecting from the gear box C is provided with a recessed flange c to receive the head R The collar R is held together by bolts r. The faces of heads R and It are slightly rounded to avoid cramping of the parts if the shaft is not in exact ahnement. 1n assembling the coupling, the heads are first put into place, there being sufficient clearance between the heads to permit this, and then the two sections of collar R are placed in position and bolted together. The face of the collar is slightly less in width than the space between the face of hub z' and the face of head 0, as shown by the clearanco'in Figs. 3 and 4, so as not to interfere with the movement of hub 7' when member I is moved away from member H in disengaging the clutch.

It will be observed it the clutch will automatically not w. tor the excessive torque is transmitted from the gas engine to the driven portion, or whether the ex cessivc torque is transmitted in the reverse direction, such as is often the case if the clutch is closed under conditions such that the speed of the driven part is higher than that of the driving shaft; this may he qu'ently occur due to the change gear being improperly set when the friction clutch closed. a It will be observed that the friction clutch is balanced in itself; that is, there is no external end thrust due to the friction clutch mechanism when in its normal operating condition.

While I have illustrated and described one embodiment cf, my improved form of-clutch,

it willbe understood that vaiious changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of my invention as indicated by the following claims.

hat I claim is: s v

1. The combination of a driving part, a driven part, means for disconnecting said parts at the will of the ope ator, means responsive to the torque transmitted tending to automaticallydisconnect the said parts, and means acting counter to said second named means and normally tending to keep said parts in driving connection.

2. In a-friction clutch, means whereby one of the frictional surfaces may be moved away from the other at the will of the op-; erator for varying the torque transmitted, and automatic means responsive to the torque transmitted for moving one of the frictional surfaces relatively to the other to control the torque transmitted.

3. In a clutch, means wherebyone part of the clutch may be moved. relatively to the other atthe will of the operator for varyingthe torque transmitted, and automatic means responsive .to the torque transmitted for positively moving one part of the clutch relatively to the other and thereby preventing the torque transmitted from exceeding a predetermined amount-while maintaining an operative connection.

4. In a power transmitting device, means whereby the torque of the power transmitted may be controlled at the will of the operator, and automatic means comprising a torque responsive movable element for controllmg the torque of the power transmitted while maintaining an operative connectionl 5. In a friction clutch, means temling to move the frictional surfaces together, a second means automatically responsive to the effort transmitted tending to positively move such surfaces apart, and independent means under the controlof the operator for moving the said surfaces apart.

6. A power transmitting device comprising two clutch parts, one of said clutch parts comprising-a primary section and a second ary section, means for yieldingly transmitting power from the primary section to the secondary section, whereby the motion of the secondary section and the other clutch part engaged therewith may be retarded by an increase in torque, means actuated by such retardation tending to open the clutch when the torque exceeds a predetermined amount, yieldable means constantly tending to close said clutch, and means for adjusting the force exerted by said yieldablemeans.

7. A power transmitting device comprising a movable clutch part, a secondary section having a clutch part adapted to engage the said movable clutch" part, movable devices in said secondary section to displace phi torque transmitted to a p1'eclotm'i'i'iined maxiin;; El predoierminmi amount while mainprising a movable element rweponsive to the moi-ion of the eeconiinry eeotion and the provided with means for moving the mov- I able devices when he springs have rec *iveci 1 a prerieierniineri torque.

Bi power transmitting device mmprisf ing a member having sinadjnsiahie cluich nnit, a member composed of a primary secion and a seoonrlary eeciion the iatter hav- 1 :ing a olnich pert formed to engage the said n iim, o PiHi iI part a iring hetweon said seiziione and ilflf-ipi'fitl o yieiriingly irnnsmit i mum amount inrh-pendnntiy of Whir-ii of said parts is the driving part and when the device is; moving in ihe same direction.

1%. .E r power transmitting (.ievii-e having two parts, each of which may at times be the driving part and the other the Li! R811? part, and automatic means: con'iprising a torque responsive movable element for preventing the torque ti'zinsmiii'iwi from exceedialning an operative connection independentiy of which part is the driving part and when the cieviee moving in ihe same (lireo Lion.

11. The combination of two parts, each of wi'iichmn at times be the ilrii'ing part an 'l the niher iiie driven pnrf, means comiorqne irzineiniitorl ieniling to automatically clisconneri said piiris independently of which of siiiii part is the driving part and when the: pr-i 2:: are moving in the same iireotion, ani noting counter to said first named means: iin l normally tending to keep szuri parts in driving'rafinneolion.

power iIHDFTTfilidTlg' (levice eomch parts, one of said clutch iprising a primary section and a w ieeciion, means for yieldingly i" 11 ring power from the primary tion to the seooniiiai'y eseotion whereby the other snitch part engaged ihorewiih may he reizirder by an increase in torque, means anteater by 5118i retardation tending to the ciuich when the i'orque exceeds EE- prede'i ermined amount, yieiclahle means constantly finding to close Said eluieh and noting io ciose sai :hitch afier the/clutch has been automatically opened, and means for the force exeried by said yieioehie means, i

13 The eonihinanon of ii primary memher, a coiiperaiing member zi-flapiecl to he frictionziiiy to transmit a ior e, :1 third member having a woven: 'ni relatively to one of the said oiher members and whirah reiative movement dependent upon the force irnnemitied, and means responsive to the movengigni' of Said third member: for controiling; the frictional engagement between iid primary and. cooperating member when the parts are moving in the Sallie (lireciion inrleponrientiy of whether said primary member or cooperating member is the driv ing part.

14. The combination of a primary memher, a cooperating member adapted to be friotionai'ly engaged to transmit a. force, a third member hnvin movemenirreiatiyely to one of the said other members and which relative movement is dependent upon the force transmitted and means responsive to the movemenfi of said third member for c0niroiling the frictional engagement between Filit'l primary and. miiipera'ting members inrlnpei'idenfly of the direction of n'iovement and independently of Whether said primary member or cooperating member is the driving part. 7

15. The cornhinz tion of a driving part, a driven part, a clutch for connecting said parts, and means comprising a torque responsive movable element for automaticaiiy preventing the torque gransniiited from exceeding a predetermined niaxiinnm amount independently of the direction of movemeni amid also lndepeiniently of which of said parts the ili'iving pnri.

16. The comhine'iion of a' driving part, :1 driwn pan, 2: clui'eh for connecting the irisand means conmrisin a torque rel a sponsivo movable eiemcni: for mifmnaiiczilly preventing the torque transmitted from exceeding a predetermined, maximum amount am} for maintaining an operative drivingconnection imlepenrlmitiy of the direction of EI'JOVQTflBflt and also indopenrlentiy of which of sairl parts is; the driiiiig part 1 17'. In a friction ciutch, the combination of We members having surfaces frictionaily engage-(i, 1.322115 for forcing said members together, means: for adjusting [he force exeiterl by said 1110:1115 e ih'irzl member movable relativeiy to one of Fiiid members in i'ir spouse to 'ziriations of the force transmib ieci, and means nonlt'oiieil thereby for vary ing the pressure beiv'nren ihe'sziid surfaces,

18. In n friction c iuteh, the combination with the iw'o memberg; having engaging sin faces, of acljusiabie nieans for determining maximum pr are between said Silir faces; and inclepenciently adjustable means responsive to the foroe irsinsmitted for-regu- Eating the pressure hoiiveen said snrfeee s.

191 The combination with the engaging members of a friction clutch, of means whereby the dutch may he opened at the will of the operator, and automatic means and independently hf the coefficient-of fr1ction between said surfaces, and means for opening said clutch at the will of the operator.

21. A friction clutch comprising two members having cooperating frictional surfaces, means tending to force one of said surfaces into en agement with the other and for balancing the end thrust of said clutch when said surfaces are in engagement, and means movable in response to the force transmitted for automatically regulating the amount of force transmitted.

The combination of a primary memher, a eoiiperating member adapted to be frictionally engaged to transmit a force, a third member havin a movement relatively to one of the said ot ier members and which relative movement is dependent. upon the force transmitted, and means responsive to the movement of said third member for corn trolling the frictional engagement between said primary and cooperating member.

A transmitting device parts having frictional surfaces, means tending to maint: in a pressure b tween said sur f; l v and means acting counter to said first named means for automatically limitingthe maximum effort which can be'transmittcd' through said surfaces, said latter means comprising r torque responsive movable element.

24. A transmitting device comprising parts having cooperating surfaces, means tending to maintain said surfaces in tractive engagement, and means comprising a mo able clement automatically responsive to the effort tran mitted for automaticallylimiting the effort transmitted to a certain predeterminable maximum. '25. in a friction clutch, the combination with friction members, of elastic mechanism through which the turning force is transmitted and whose capacity of resistance to said turning force is the measure of the maximum torque that the clutch will transmit.

26. In a'friction clutch, the combination with the driving; shaft, a driven shaft, and two friction members one of which is positively rotatable with said driven shaft, of elastic mechanism through which the turn v clutch will transmit, 7

comprising ing force is transmitted. and. whose capacity of resistance to said turning force is" the mea e113 of the maximum torque that the 27, In a friction clutch, the combination with means positively operated by the torque for reducing the frictional engagemenh of means operated independently of the torque for disengaging the chitch.

28. In a friction clutch, the combination with means positively operated by the torque for limiting the torque to a predetermined maximum Whose value is independent of the coefficient of friction, of means operated independently of the torque for disengaging 7 the clutch.

29. A friction clutch comprising elastic mechanism through which the turning force is transmitted and whose capacity of resistance to the turning force is the measure of the maximum torque that the clutch will transmit, and mechanism operated inde pendently of torque" for ,disengagu'ng --the clutch. l Q

30. In a friction clutch, the combination with friction members, of elastic mechanism through which the turning force is trans mitted and whose capacity of resistance to .said turning force is the measure of the,

maximum torque that the clutch will trans- Tfllt,-fl11d mechanism operated independently of torque for disengaging the clutch.

31.111 a motor 'car triction clutch, the combination of the frictional clutch members, and means dependent upon the torque transmitted. through the clutch for psitively moving oneot' the friction cliitch members in a direction to reduce the pres sure between the fi 'ional surfaces, and in also manually controlling the torque.

In a friction clutch, the combination of the frictional clutch members, and means dependent upon the torque transmitted for automatically varying the pressure between the frictional surfaces or the clutch.

33. In a friction clutch, the combination 0? two frictional clutch members, means for forcing one of said members into engagement with the other and for balancing the end thrust, and auxiliary means for automaticall controlling the pressure between said surfaces.

lnxa friction clutch, a main driving member, a member rotating with said nain driving member, a resiiient member connected at one end to main driving member and at the other end to rotatable member, said resilient member being adapted to yield under a predetermined torque and allow a change in the relative positions of the aforesaid members, a friction member. means for holding said friction member in engagement with said rotatable member, and automatic means for disengaging said rotating and friction members following a egg l me-ee change inthe relative positiex'ls 0f the seifl holding the clutch in e'lgf ';1 g-=:rmen mean .5 main driving member-and retaking member. whereby the engagement of the eleteh tendri 35; The combination with a (iriving shaft fie :a12150111zifieafiy effieet a release indepenr a drivenushaft, 0f eeiipemiing clutch ently of he holding means, and yiei ling 5 members carried by said shafts, one. 91 said means separate 5mm the fielding means fer eluteh members; being mevably meunted to opposing sue-h release 3.2162 etiepced to everw 2e releasably engage the other member, and come said balding means at predetermineii means whereby upen a predetermined had 102d. the shaft carrying one of said clutch mem- This speeifieation signed semi witnessed 16 hers permitted to rotate differentiaily this 1st day 0f August'wfiii.

with respect to said dutch member. H, WARE LEGNAIUD, 36, The combination wfiih a. driving and Witnesses: a driven shaft, sf a friction eiuieh for re- LE HARD KEBLER, ieasabEy connecting said shafts, means for Seaman: G. LEONARD.

It hereby certified thei in Letters Patent No. 1,01%,894, granted Xevemuer 19,

L912, upon the application of Harry Ward Leonard, of Bronxvilie, Iew York, for

en improvement in Efi'ort-Transmitting Frictional ,Devicesj earmrs appear in Ehe minted specificaiiion requiring correetion es fuilews-z Page Eine 83, fer the wmrze words and in also menualiy eentruiiizlg the torque and insert. a perieai; the said Letters Patent should he read with these corrections herein "eke-9; same,

me'v conform to the record of the case in the Patent Signed and sealed this 249th day of December A. Dfi iil,

ens in Letiers Patent Ne. 3,@44;894,

"E3 {@EAL] C. L BELLEHGS,

Em l

g Actmg {hr/muse 1m? 9; Passa e egg l me-ee change inthe relative positiex'ls 0f the seifl holding the clutch in e'lgf ';1 g-=:rmen mean .5 main driving member-and retaking member. whereby the engagement of the eleteh tendri 35; The combination with a (iriving shaft fie :a12150111zifieafiy effieet a release indepenr a drivenushaft, 0f eeiipemiing clutch ently of he holding means, and yiei ling 5 members carried by said shafts, one. 91 said means separate 5mm the fielding means fer eluteh members; being mevably meunted to opposing sue-h release 3.2162 etiepced to everw 2e releasably engage the other member, and come said balding means at predetermineii means whereby upen a predetermined had 102d. the shaft carrying one of said clutch mem- This speeifieation signed semi witnessed 16 hers permitted to rotate differentiaily this 1st day 0f August'wfiii.

with respect to said dutch member. H, WARE LEGNAIUD, 36, The combination wfiih a. driving and Witnesses: a driven shaft, sf a friction eiuieh for re- LE HARD KEBLER, ieasabEy connecting said shafts, means for Seaman: G. LEONARD.

It hereby certified thei in Letters Patent No. 1,01%,894, granted Xevemuer 19,

L912, upon the application of Harry Ward Leonard, of Bronxvilie, Iew York, for

en improvement in Efi'ort-Transmitting Frictional ,Devicesj earmrs appear in Ehe minted specificaiiion requiring correetion es fuilews-z Page Eine 83, fer the wmrze words and in also menualiy eentruiiizlg the torque and insert. a perieai; the said Letters Patent should he read with these corrections herein "eke-9; same,

me'v conform to the record of the case in the Patent Signed and sealed this 249th day of December A. Dfi iil,

ens in Letiers Patent Ne. 3,@44;894,

"E3 {@EAL] C. L BELLEHGS,

Em l

g Actmg {hr/muse 1m? 9; Passa e 

